DRDO Partners with AIESL, Adani Defence for AEW&C Mk-II Project

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed two separate contracts to advance the development and production of the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme, aimed at strengthening India's airborne surveillance and air defence capabilities.

The first contract was signed by the Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), the DRDO's nodal laboratory for the programme, with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), New Delhi. Under the agreement, AIESL will convert six A321 aircraft from commercial to "green configuration", preparing them for their eventual transformation into AEW&C Mk-II platforms.

A second contract was signed with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL), Ahmedabad, under which the company will serve as a Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for the mission systems being developed for the programme.

The AEW&C Mk-II system is designed to provide the Indian armed forces with enhanced endurance, advanced airborne surveillance, secure communications, improved situational awareness and stronger command-and-control capabilities. These capabilities are expected to strengthen India's ability to monitor airspace, detect potential threats and respond to them over extended ranges.

Under the programme, CABS and ADSTL will integrate the mission systems onto the modified AEW&C Mk-II aircraft platforms, which will be delivered by Airbus Defence & Space, the original equipment manufacturer. The integrated aircraft will undergo flight testing in coordination with the Indian Air Force before certification by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA).

The Defence Ministry said the increased participation of Indian industry represents a significant boost to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The contracts are expected to support the development of a stronger domestic ecosystem for defence innovation, research, manufacturing and advanced aerospace technologies.

The agreements were signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh, marking a significant step towards enhancing India's indigenous airborne early warning and control capabilities.